Nine leading public health and environmental organizations have stepped up to defend the landmark Clean Power Plan in the federal appeals court in Washington, saying the plan is a crucial step to curb the carbon pollution from power plants that drives dangerous climate change.

The groups intervened in lawsuits against the Environmental Protection Agency’s climate plan addressing new and existing power plants, countering a group of coal companies, polluting power generators and allied state attorneys general that sued to block the first-ever standards limiting power plant carbon pollution.

The intervenor groups include the American Lung Association, Center for Biological Diversity, Clean Air Council, Clean Wisconsin, Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Ohio Environmental Council and Sierra Club. Attorneys from Earthjustice and Clean Air Task Force are co-counsel.

The final Clean Power Plan was published in the Federal Register on October 23, 2015, launching a 60-day period to file lawsuits over the plan. In addition to the health and environmental groups, motions are expected by at least 15 state attorneys general, a group of utilities, cities and others united in support of limiting power plant carbon pollution.